Topoguides, IGN maps and apps for following a GR

The FFRandonnée topoguide, the long-standing reference

The French Hiking Federation publishes topoguides devoted to GR, GR de Pays and PR routes. A topoguide brings together the line of the route drawn on extracts of IGN maps, a detailed description of the itinerary, practical information (accommodation, supplies, access) and insights into the heritage along the way. It is the most complete tool for preparing a GR stage by stage.

Since 2024, the federation has also offered Topocartes for some GR and GR de Pays routes. These are flexible maps on an IGN base, printed on both sides, lightweight, tear-proof and waterproof, which split the route into daily stages and show the accommodation, places to eat and transport for each one. The format is intended as a compromise between the topoguide and the map.

A tip: check the publication date of your topoguide. A route may be diverted and a place to stay may close between two editions; the latest information on the route, available online, is a useful addition to an older guide.

The 1:25,000 IGN map

For following a route on the ground, FFRandonnée considers the 1:25,000 scale the most useful: 1 cm on the map represents 250 m, or 4 cm per km. The detail is excellent, but a GR lasting several days may require several sheets.

IGN publishes two series at this scale:

• The Série Bleue, which details tracks, paths, woods, rivers, springs and buildings, on a sheet covering about 20 km by 14 km.
• The TOP 25, which covers twice the area and adds tourist information: staffed refuges, shelters, camping areas, roads closed to vehicles. Waymarked routes are generally shown in red. A laminated version is available.

The 1:50,000 scale gives a good overview of the terrain over a long distance, and the 1:100,000 is mainly used to plan a multi-day hike: spotting roads, railway stations, stages and places to stock up.

Estimating how long a stage will take

On the map, measure the distance and work out the ascent from the contour lines, spaced 10 m apart on most 1:25,000 maps. FFRandonnée uses as benchmarks 4 km/h on the flat, 300 to 350 m of ascent per hour and 400 to 500 m of descent per hour, breaks not included. These averages become more accurate with experience and depending on the terrain.

Apps

Cartes IGN, IGN's official app

Take note if you used IGNrando': according to IGN, the IGNrando.fr website closed on 20 November 2025, and the app was renamed WeTrek. It is now published by Ubicarta, without IGN. The institute instead recommends its free app Cartes IGN, for phones and tablets.

Cartes IGN lets you view several base maps (Plan IGN, aerial photographs, topographic maps), record a track in real time and import or export routes and waypoints in GPX format. IGN advertises more than 6,000 suggested hikes from partners in the Geotrek community, such as parks and tourist offices. One important limit: for distribution rights reasons, some base maps, including SCAN 25, cannot be downloaded for offline use. Plan IGN data, on the other hand, can be downloaded freely for use without a signal.

MonGR.fr and GR @ccess

MonGR.fr is FFRandonnée's portal devoted to GR trails. Its GR @ccess tool, available with an annual subscription, displays GR tracks on 1:25,000 IGN mapping, offers more than 450 suggested routes of two days or more, recommends accommodation and lets you export a route as GPX or PDF. You can also select a segment of a GR, from one waypoint to another, to plan a hike section by section. The federation states that its data relies on the work of 9,500 volunteer waymarkers and data collectors and is updated daily.

GPX tracks and their limits

A GPX track is a file that describes a route as a series of geographical points. Loaded into an app or a GPS, it lets you check at a glance whether you are on the right path. It is an excellent addition, provided you know its limits:

• A track can be out of date. The route of a GR can change: a diversion after a rockfall, a new crossing, a detour around private property. A track downloaded from a community site may be several years old. On the ground, the waymarking in place always takes precedence.
• Not all tracks are equal. Prefer official sources (the federation, parks, tourist offices) to personal recordings, which may contain errors, variants or detours.
• Phones have their weaknesses. The battery drains quickly, especially in cold weather, and FFRandonnée points out that apps can become unusable where there is no signal. Download the maps before you set off and take a power bank.
• A track does not tell you everything. It shows neither how difficult a section is, nor the state of the path, nor whether a refuge is open.

The right combination

For a GR lasting several days, the safest combination brings together three tools: the topoguide or the Topocarte for preparation and practical information, a paper map or downloaded maps for navigation, and a recent GPX track to clear up doubts at junctions. Finally, keep a compass in your pack: its battery never runs out.